Satisfaction with Work

8.8 / 10

(based on
12 ratings in 2016)

2016

"The level of responsibility and day-to-day interaction varies within each team. I've had quite a lot of interaction with clients and more levels of responsibility within each team as my training contract progresses. The firm encourages trainees (where possible) to get involved with high levels of responsibility."

First year trainee, Cambridge

"Client interaction changes from team to team but generally there is a good amount of contact and responsibility from day one."

First year trainee, Cambridge

"I have had a great deal of client interaction throughout my training contract, both face-to-face during meetings and via email and telephone. The firm has an excellent balance of giving you as much responsibility as you want without pushing you too far. I have experienced a range of work here, the six four-month seats exposing me to a variety of specialisms and the fee-earners' support providing a multitude of skill-enhancing tasks."

Second year trainee, Norwich

"Very dependent upon department. In some departments I was running my own files and speaking to clients every day; in others I had less responsibility."

Second year trainee, Birmingham

"I am exposed to a wide variety of work and trusted to manage my own workload."

Second year trainee, Birmingham

"The firm are keen for you to get stuck in and do proper work, rather than the traditional 'trainee tasks'. I am always taken along to meetings with my supervisor."

Second year trainee, Cambridge

"It has built as my training has. I am never thrown into a situation without the background knowledge, but I am trusted to liaise with clients on a day-to-day basis and invited to client meetings where supervisors think a matter would be interesting and it would be useful for me to be involved."

First year trainee, Manchester

"In my current seat I am getting to do great, intellectually-challenging work. As an employment trainee my day-to-day responsibilities include: organising documents for disclosure, attending tribunals with clients and counsel, research on tricky points of law, and drafting settlement agreements. In some seats I have had more client interaction than in others."

Second year trainee, Cambridge

2015

"I have had lots of client contact in some seats more than others (Family, Commercial Real Estate and Insurance). My day to day responsibilities in my current seat, Commercial Disputes and Regulatory, are liaising with the client, reviewing merits of a case (for Letters of Response and the trajectory of claims), research and drafting documents (witness statements)."

Second year trainee, Norwich

"The nature of the role varies from team-to-team. Sometimes there is a little more admin than I would prefer, but as a trainee some of that does help me learn. Sorting the post and preparing emails of people's BD events sometimes isn't the most inspiring. The level of client contact varies between seats, too. Overall, though, I have been very satisfied with the level of responsibility afforded to me. Being a cog in the wheel of the numerous ongoing matters pretty much means my day-to-day responsibilities cover many areas. Recently I have been preparing a lot of court documents and liaising directly with clients on their contents."

First year trainee, Cambridge

"I am under the impression that trainees are given much more responsibility at Mills & Reeve than they tend to get at other firms. I have a good amount of client interaction but support from my colleagues where it is required."

First year trainee, Cambridge

"The work you do varies from seat to seat, but in litigious seats there is a lot of client contact. Responsibility increases as you become more experienced."

Second year trainee, Birmingham

"I have a lot of day-to-day interaction with clients. I have been entrusted to run a number of projects and cases independently with supervision."

"Day-to-day responsibilities differ from seat-to-seat, however overall there is a lot of client contact in most of the seats, whether face-to-face or when dealing with your own matters (under supervision). There is an awareness amongst teams that trainees are sitting with them to learn, as well as to provide additional resource. This means that I have had some great opportunities to do complicated and interesting work."

Second year trainee, Norwich

2014

"The role of a trainee varies greatly from seat to seat. Contentious seats offer a large amount of client interaction for trainees and trainees will attend a number of meetings with clients. The firm tries to give trainees as much responsibility as possible and this is achieved by entrusting trainees with their own files and allowing them to liaise with clients directly."

First year trainee, Birmingham

"Each day varies but I have had the opportunity to sit in on client meetings and meetings with counsel. I have been given some really challenging and exciting work with as little or as much supervision as I need."

First year trainee, Manchester

"As a trainee your role differs depending on the workload and team. I have attended numerous client meetings and been involved in some important drafting."

Second year trainee, Cambridge

"I am entrusted with a great deal of responsibility in my role as trainee. I have attended client meetings and supported client's in the Court arena. My day-to-day responsibilities include drafting court documents, taking witness statements, conducting legal research tasks and managing a number of smaller files."

First year trainee, Birmingham

"It varies from seat to seat although I can say that supervisors put a lot of trust in trainees which means early responsibility and a good amount of client contact."

Second year trainee, Norwich

"I have a good deal of client interaction (e.g. meetings, calls and emails) and I have been given a good level of responsibility."

First year trainee, Birmingham

"The firm are very aware that trainees are there to learn, not to be used purely as a resource for other fee earners. Therefore, I am exposed to a wide range of clients and tasks to ensure that my training is as varied and rounded as possible. I have regularly experienced fee earners approaching me to ask whether I'd like to sit in on training/client meetings/internal discussions just so I can gain as much exposure as possible. Having said that, sitting in is not as far as it goes; I am regularly asked to have a first go at providing advice, drafting pleadings, speaking to clients etc - the training really is hands on. They take the approach, 'How will you learn if you don't try it for yourself'. In this respect, there is a really excellent balance of supervision and independent thought."

Second year trainee, Birmingham

"Client interaction varies between seats, but you are expected to be able to interact with clients from the outset. Day-to-day responsibilities also vary but include first-drafting, reviewing, noting meetings, researching and more mundane administrative tasks."

First year trainee, Cambridge

2013

"This varies from seat to seat and according to your supervisor. Having worked in two offices I think the responsibility given to trainees in the offices varies too."

Second year trainee, Birmingham

"There are obviously times as a trainee when you get lumbered with the boring jobs, like searching through deeds to find certain conveyances. But it all does help with your understanding of either the law, practice or being able to understand the content of certain documents. The client contact has been okay, not great - but then I have only been here for six months. The level of responsibility can be high - a few months into my training there were several times when I went alone to hearings in London (conducted by Counsel) to ensure court proceedings ran smoothly."

First year trainee, Norwich

"As I have not been well throughout my training contract, I am really impressed with how the teams I am working in have handled it. They have still given me good quality work without overloading me."

Second year trainee, Cambridge

"In my current seat there is plenty of opportunity for client contact. As I become familiar with the work, I am being given more responsibility so that eventually I can attempt to manage a file, with appropriate supervision. Typically, I will compile attendance notes, prepare post inquest reports, draft witness statements and conduct ad-hoc research tasks..."

First year trainee, Birmingham

"I've had some great client contact, have had my own files to run, and been involved with some high-profile clients."

Second year trainee, Birmingham

"I have had plenty of interaction with clients by email, telephone and letter. I have had my own (simple) matters to run with help from my supervisor. There is lots of responsibility early on."

Our 'Inside Buzz' reviews are the comments and views of recent graduate recruits, giving you a view of what it may be like to work for an organisation. Copyright of all TARGETjobs Inside Buzz material lies solely with GTI Media.